A Sunshine Coast RCMP corporal has arrived in Sudan to join a peacekeeping mission with the United Nations.
Cpl. Barry Meyer is one of two Canadian police officers being deployed on the mission to support the Sudanese police and people in the war-torn African country.
"I wanted to go on this mission as I have always aspired to represent Canada overseas on a mission such as this," Meyer said in an interview with Coast Reporter this week. "I am fortunate to be employed by a federal policing agency (RCMP) that is a member state of the UN, and this allows me to have this opportunity. I have always aspired to have the opportunity to share my knowledge of community policing elsewhere - and the opportunity to do it while wearing the Canadian flag makes it very special."
Meyer and Ontarian Sgt. Richard Davis will be observers in a remote area of southern Sudan and will assist the local police with training and mentoring to improve police infrastructure, Meyer explained. Working for the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) police component, the two Canadian officers will be joined by more than 700 police officers from other UN-member states around the world. UNMIS police will be watching for potential human rights abuses or abuse of police powers in Sudan, according to an RCMP press release. In addition they will meet with community leaders, representative groups and others to assess Sudan's policing needs.
UNMIS was established in March, 2005 when, after decades of civil war, a comprehensive peace agreement was signed in January, 2005. The goal of the UNMIS police component "is to help create a modern, effective and efficient Sudanese police service that operates fairly and impartially and in observance of the rule of law, with respect for human rights and in accordance with internationally accepted standards of conduct," according to its website.
On April 2 of this year, Meyer left the Coast for Ottawa for deployment training until April 18. On April 19, he arrived in Khartoum for United Nations police and mission training.
He was to find out the exact location of his posting in southern Sudan within the next week. Meyer expects to return from the mission in January, 2007. He does not yet know whether he will return to the Sunshine Coast detachment or to a new posting.
"The RCMP is proud that Sgt. Davis and Cpl. Meyer will be taking part in this particular mission," RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli said in the press release. "Their deployment illustrates the recognition and support that exist internationally for the Canadian way of policing. Achieving peace, stability and the rule of law in Sudan is a massive international undertaking. Our members will be there to help the Sudanese people build the foundation of safety, security and human rights that all people deserve."
The RCMP staffing section selected Meyer and Davis as the most suitable candidates to represent Canadian policing, after posting a request for applications within the RCMP and international policing partner agencies, according to Const. Erwin Fraga of the RCMP international peacekeeping branch.
Meyer came to the Sunshine Coast detachment in 2000 when he was promoted to corporal and has served here as a watch commander. Born in Alberta, he began his policing career in B.C. at the Tumbler Ridge detachment from 1990 to 1994. He served at the Sicamous detachment from 1994 to 2000. Meyer holds a bachelor of arts degree and a criminology/law enforcement diploma. Meyer reports he arrived to intense heat in Sudan, with temperatures of 47 degrees Celsius. He expects to work extensive hours, going 45 to 75 days without leave.
